Chapter 64
As the B.H. advertising incident continued to escalate, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
An Ye unexpectedly retweeted the advertisement video and added the caption: “The newcomer is named Cheng Xuyuan, quite handsome. I hope everyone will support him in the future.”
An Ye’s fans, who had staunchly opposed the hype around newcomers, were collectively dumbfounded.
The protagonist had taken a hit.
Not only had he taken a hit, but he had also become the enemy.
This sudden twist completely disrupted the Weibo topic. Some questioned whether this was a prearranged move between An Ye and the newcomer, while others suspected that the newcomer had influential backing that reached even An Ye.
Leveraging their powerful ability to control comments, An Ye’s fan club spent four to five hours steering the overall direction of public opinion.
“An Ye is handsome and kind-hearted, supporting the younger generation in the entertainment industry. Let’s pay attention to An Ye’s new works…”
The dramatic development of the entire incident left onlookers speculating, but the biggest beneficiary was B.H. Corporation. Pre-sales of the new watch had reached astonishing numbers, a miraculous feat for such an expensive timepiece.
Cheng Xuyuan was also active on Weibo, but he didn’t pay much attention to these matters. After all, no matter how much attention this incident garnered, it was just the beginning for him. There were more important things waiting for him to accomplish.
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H City, Yincheng Entertainment.
This was a small company that had gained fame in the entertainment industry in recent years. Although it couldn’t compare to An Ye’s Yunhuo Entertainment, it still had its merits among the rising stars.
In the CEO’s office, Cheng Xuyuan sat across from Su Linrui, the CEO of Yincheng Entertainment, carefully reviewing the contract. Su Linrui’s expression still held surprise; he never expected that this newcomer, who had become a hot topic with just one advertisement, would choose to sign with Yincheng Entertainment.
“Why did you choose us?” This was the question Su Linrui most wanted to ask. Otherwise, he worried that this beautiful youth might be a corporate spy sent by a competitor.
Cheng Xuyuan looked up at him, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Of course, because Yincheng Entertainment has great potential.”
“That’s impossible.” As someone who had taken the CEO position, Su Linrui instantly saw through his lie. “While our company has potential, compared to Yunhuo in the same period, our growth space is smaller. And compared to top-tier stars in the entertainment industry, we lack sufficient fame. Someone with your conditions…”
“Alright, since you want the truth, I’ll tell you. An Ye from Yunhuo is my competitor, and Xiang Boyan from Star Entertainment has a grudge against me.”
“That’s unlikely. Both of them are successful businessmen who understand that profit comes before everything. If you were willing to go to their companies, they would still promote you.”
Cheng Xuyuan decisively signed his name at the designated spot. He looked at Su Linrui and said, “President Su, you’re not easy to deceive. Yes, I did come here with a purpose.”
Su Linrui adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a trace of surprise flickering in his refined eyes.
“I want the best resources your company has.” Cheng Xuyuan’s gaze bore into Su Linrui’s, unwavering. “As long as you’re willing, I won’t let you regret it.”
Su Linrui looked at him, a thousand reasons to refuse swirling in his mind. But faced with this young face, he couldn’t bring himself to say the word “no.” After a moment, he lowered his head, a smile tugging at his lips as the lenses caught a glint of light. “You’re quite confident. You’re cut out to be an artist.”
Cheng Xuyuan handed the contract to Su Linrui. “Now that we’ve signed, I’ll work hard to become a superstar. After all, President Su is also a businessman; you should know where to invest your money wisely.”
Su Linrui looked at him seriously and suddenly said, “Six months.”
“Hmm?” Cheng Xuyuan looked at him with a hint of doubt.
“During these six months, the company’s best resources will be prioritized for you. But if after six months, you haven’t met my expectations, you’ll be put on hold for the rest of your time to repay this debt.”
Cheng Xuyuan didn’t back down and confidently replied, “Three months.”
Su Linrui paused, unable to help but smile. His eyes were filled with incredulity as he said to Cheng Xuyuan, “Alright, since you’re so confident, I’ll give you three months. Now, please tell me your plan.”
Cheng Xuyuan stood up, walked to Su Linrui’s side, and whispered something in his ear.
Su Linrui’s expression gradually shifted from amusement to seriousness. He pinched his chin, nodding frequently, and finally said in a low voice to Cheng Xuyuan, “Your approach will definitely make waves. Perhaps you’ll become even more famous than An Ye, but it will also attract a lot of criticism…”
“It doesn’t matter.” Cheng Xuyuan’s gaze showed no hesitation. “Black or red, it’s still a shade of fame.”
Su Linrui stared into his eyes for a few minutes, as if suddenly understanding something. He stood up, shook hands with Cheng Xuyuan, and said with a hint of pleasure, “Then let’s have a pleasant collaboration.”
“Pleasant collaboration.” The handsome young man exuded confidence, like a soldier ready for battle, already foreseeing his inevitable victory.
Cheng Xuyuan’s first task was to create a personal Weibo account. With the help of Yincheng Entertainment, his new Weibo account was quickly set up. Simultaneously, Su Linrui instructed Yincheng's publicity department and B.H.'s official account to promote Cheng Xuyuan vigorously.
His first Weibo post read: [Hello, everyone. I am Cheng Xuyuan. [Image]]
The accompanying picture was a stunning portrait taken in a Las Vegas hotel. The photo’s allure could only be described as “breathtaking.” It immediately captivated countless fans.
Of course, there were also comments from An Ye’s fans, filled with sarcasm.
[What’s the use of being good-looking? I don’t think his acting in that commercial was impressive.]
[Why do people only care about looks nowadays? This person is constantly seeking attention; there must be something wrong with their character.]
[I still think An Ye looks better.]
Cheng Xuyuan’s second Weibo post was: [Thank you, senior, for helping me promote. I think you look better. @An Ye V.]
If his first post had only sparked controversy, this second one caused a tsunami. An Ye’s fans flooded his comments section, launching a barrage of criticism.
[Can you stop riding on the hype?]
Cheng Xuyuan surprisingly replied, [I’m not riding on the hype, just clarifying.]
An Ye was also shocked by this young man’s audacity. Maintaining an appropriate distance from other artists was a well-known rule, especially avoiding comparisons with those of higher status or their fans.
Yet Cheng Xuyuan had broken every taboo.
His Weibo post was reported by An Ye’s fans repeatedly, and the comments and shares skyrocketed, instantly drawing the attention of countless onlookers.
The situation began to shift.
[An Ye’s fans are as ruthless as ever, and this poor newcomer can’t even defend himself against their attacks.]
[I think responding positively is great. Besides, it was initially the fans of An Ye who mocked his appearance.]
[Truth be told, if I were the CEO of B.H, I would have also chosen Cheng Xuyuan for this advertisement.]
Cheng Xuyuan, with his exceptionally handsome looks, gained favor with countless passersby. They all spoke up for him, and the comments under his Weibo posts gradually shifted in his favor.
An Ye had no choice but to reply personally: [Haha, both are good-looking.]
With this, the matter came to a close. By the time everyone realized it, Cheng Xuyuan’s fan base had grown by a million. For a newcomer, this was practically a textbook example of marketing success.
Su Linrui created an anonymous account to follow Cheng Xuyuan and gave him a hearty thumbs-up.
Word of this incident reached Xiang Boyan. Initially, he expressed disdain for An Ye’s fans, but then he followed Cheng Xuyuan’s Weibo account and commented: [Cheng Xuyuan, you’re incredibly handsome. You deserve the best future.]
The CEO’s comment was quickly buried in the flood of responses.
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Just as Cheng Xuyuan successfully brought his Weibo into the public eye, a film director approached him.
Initially, the director wasn’t looking for Cheng Xuyuan. He had wanted to ask Yincheng Entertainment for a capable newcomer to play the second male lead in his movie. The reasons were simple: first, because he had a working relationship with Yincheng, and second, because it was cost-effective.
However, when Su Linrui learned that An Ye would be playing the male lead, he unhesitatingly recommended Cheng Xuyuan to the director. At first, the director was thrilled, thinking it would generate tremendous buzz for the film. But then he began to worry and asked Su Linrui, “How good is your newcomer’s acting?”
To secure this movie role, Su Linrui arranged a meeting between the director and Cheng Xuyuan.
Cheng Xuyuan flipped through the script and looked at the director. “My acting skills are average, honestly. But I shouldn’t have any problem portraying this character.”
“If that’s the case…” Su Linrui glanced at him with concern. “You and An Ye will undoubtedly be compared. You might become the target of ridicule.”
“Su Linrui, why do you keep second-guessing yourself?” Cheng Xuyuan smiled, his obsidian-like eyes captivating. “I’m here to walk the fine line between darkness and fame. If I don’t court controversy, how can I rise to stardom?”
The director stood there, dumbfounded.
Cheng Xuyuan turned to the director and said, “Director Chen, give me this role, and I promise to perform it well. At the same time, the film’s topic will surely gain attention. Will you take this deal?”
Without hesitation, Director Chen nodded. “You have potential,” he said, looking at Cheng Xuyuan’s face.
Su Linrui glanced at Cheng Xuyuan with a half-smile. “Although you plan to take the controversial route, if you get too deeply entangled, you might not be able to turn things around.”
“Don’t worry,” Cheng Xuyuan picked up the script. “I’ll prepare thoroughly.”
His mission was clear: elevate his acting skills to a passing grade and deliver a compelling performance in the film. As for the rest… apologies to An Ye, but he might have to step on his toes again.
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One week later.
Cheng Xuyuan took on a role in an art film, a genre that An Ye rarely explored. In the movie, he portrayed a unique character: someone who outwardly admired the female lead but secretly had feelings for the male lead. Due to the sensitive theme, his scenes were subtle and required careful interpretation.
Initially hesitant about the film’s script, An Ye had been criticized in recent years for being too commercial and lacking depth. He decided it was time to transform into a versatile actor.
The film was titled “Aurora.”
At the opening ceremony of “Aurora,” when An Ye saw Cheng Xuyuan, he was taken aback. Removing his sunglasses, he stood still for five seconds before striding over to Cheng Xuyuan. His eyes held surprise as he asked, “Why are you here?”
“Me?” Cheng Xuyuan pointed to himself, smiling. "I’m the second male lead, the one secretly admiring you."
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